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Riya Sharma

How long does unemployment disqualification last in Washington ESD?

Got disqualified from my unemployment claim last month and I'm trying to figure out how long this lasts. The letter from Washington ESD wasn't super clear about the timeline. I was disqualified for 'voluntary quit without good cause' but I'm planning to appeal. Does anyone know if the disqualification period has a set length or does it last until I find new work? Really stressed about this situation and could use some guidance.

The length depends on the type of disqualification. For voluntary quit, it's usually until you work a certain number of hours and earn a minimum amount. I think it's like 680 hours or something? But definitely appeal if you think it was wrong.

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680 hours seems like a lot... do you know what the minimum earnings requirement is?

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I believe it's around $3,400 in earnings but don't quote me on that. The exact amounts change sometimes.

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You need to look at your disqualification letter more carefully. Washington ESD is required to specify the exact requirements to requalify. For voluntary quit disqualifications, you typically need to work 680 hours AND earn at least 17 times your weekly benefit amount in new employment before you can collect benefits again.

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My weekly benefit amount was $200, so I'd need to earn $3,400? That's going to take months even with a decent job.

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Exactly why appealing is so important if you have grounds. The requalification requirements are pretty steep.

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I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to understand my options. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent who could explain everything clearly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Game changer for getting real answers instead of guessing.

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Is that legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks with no luck.

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Yeah it's real. They basically help you get through the phone queue so you can actually talk to someone. Was worth it for me to get clarity on my disqualification.

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Interesting, never heard of that before but the phone system is definitely broken

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Wait, are we talking about indefinite disqualification or temporary? Because I thought most disqualifications were just for a few weeks unless it was fraud or something serious.

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Voluntary quit disqualifications aren't temporary like misconduct disqualifications. You have to requalify through work.

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Oh wow, I had no idea the different types had such different consequences

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The key thing to understand is that Washington ESD has different types of disqualifications with different requalification requirements. Voluntary quit and misconduct disqualifications require you to work and earn wages to requalify. The specific amounts are tied to your benefit amount, so it varies by person.

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This is so confusing. How is anyone supposed to navigate this system?

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It's deliberately confusing so people give up and don't collect benefits they're entitled to

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I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months and their communication is terrible. The letters are vague and when you try to call for clarification, good luck getting through. It's like they want you to fail.

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Exactly! The whole system feels designed to frustrate people into giving up.

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That's why I ended up using that Claimyr thing someone mentioned. At least then I could get actual answers from a real person.

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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! I've been trying to figure out my disqualification for two months. Nobody at Washington ESD can give me a straight answer about anything. It's like they hire people specifically to confuse claimants.

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I feel your frustration but getting angry won't help your case. Focus on the appeal if you have grounds.

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Easy for you to say when you're not facing eviction because the system is incompetent

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Just want to add that if you're appealing, don't wait too long. You have a limited time window to file your appeal after receiving the disqualification notice. I think it's 30 days but check your letter.

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Good point, I need to get my appeal in soon. The 30 days is from the mailing date, right?

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Yes, from the date on the letter, not when you received it. Don't delay!

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Been there with the voluntary quit disqualification. Took me 4 months of working part-time to meet the requalification requirements. The hours add up slower than you think, especially if you're only getting part-time work.

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4 months?! That's brutal. Were you able to survive financially during that time?

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Barely. Had to move in with family and pick up gig work. It was rough.

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The requalification requirements are based on your weekly benefit amount, so if you had a higher benefit amount, you need to earn more to requalify. It's proportional, which makes sense but can be tough if you were making good money before.

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That seems backwards - people with higher benefits probably need more help, not higher barriers

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The theory is that if you were making more money, you should be able to find similar work more easily. Whether that's true in practice is debatable.

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Quick question - does the work have to be in Washington state to count toward requalification? I might have a job opportunity in Oregon.

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Good question. The work generally needs to be covered employment under Washington state law, but there might be exceptions. You'd need to check with Washington ESD directly.

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Thanks, I'll try to get through to them somehow

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I used Claimyr after seeing it mentioned here and it actually worked. Got through to an agent who explained my disqualification clearly and what I needed to do. Much better than trying to decode the confusing letters they send.

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I'm seriously considering it. How quickly were you able to reach someone?

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Same day I signed up. The agent was knowledgeable and patient, which was a nice change from my usual Washington ESD experience.

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dont forget that even if you requalify, you still have to meet all the other requirements like job search and being able and available for work. The disqualification is just one hurdle.

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Right, I forgot about the ongoing requirements. This is getting overwhelming.

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Take it one step at a time. First focus on your appeal, then worry about requalification if the appeal doesn't work out.

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The worst part about disqualifications is they don't pause your benefit year. So even if you requalify later, you might have less time left to collect benefits. The whole system is designed to screw people over.

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Wait, what? So I could requalify but then run out of time to actually collect? That's insane.

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That's correct. Your benefit year continues running regardless of disqualification status. Another reason why appeals are so important.

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I work at a legal aid clinic and see these cases all the time. If you're considering an appeal, gather any documentation about your job separation. Text messages, emails, witness statements - anything that supports your case.

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I have some emails from my supervisor that might help. Should I include everything or just the most relevant stuff?

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Include everything relevant. Better to have too much evidence than not enough. Organize it chronologically if possible.

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Just my experience but I found that getting actual documentation from Washington ESD about the specific requalification requirements helped me track my progress. The generic letters don't tell you much.

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How did you get the specific information? Through the website or by calling?

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Had to call, but this was before I knew about services like Claimyr. Took forever to get through.

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One thing to keep in mind is that if you do requalify, you'll need to file a new application. The disqualification doesn't just automatically lift - you have to take action to restart your claim.

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More bureaucracy, great. At least now I know what to expect.

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The process is complicated but manageable if you understand the steps. Don't let the complexity discourage you from pursuing what you're entitled to.

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Good luck with your appeal! Even if it doesn't work out, at least you'll have a clear understanding of what you need to do to requalify. Knowledge is power in dealing with Washington ESD.

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Thanks everyone for all the advice. This thread has been more helpful than anything I've gotten from Washington ESD directly.

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That's unfortunately typical. The community usually has better information than the actual agency.

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